Q 

U.S. Departmen t o f Assistant Secretary ] 200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Transportatio n Washington, DC 2059 0 

Office Of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

MAR 0 3 2010 

The Honorable Mike Johanns 

United States Senator 

115 Railway Street, Suite C102 ] 

Scottsbluff; NE 69361 ' 5 

Dear Senator Johanns: 

Thank you for your letter of December 16, 2009, enclosing an e-mail from your constituent Join 

Prestia. Mr. Prestia's interest relates to a proposed transaction between US Airways and Deltjir 

Air Lines, by which Delta would exchajige certain slot interests at Ronald Reagan Washington 

National Airport (DCA) for certain US Airways slot interests at LaGuardia Airport (LGA). Your 

letter asked that Mr. Prestia's statements be investigated and the information for a reply be 

forwarded to you. It was addressed to Megan Rosia, the former Assistant Administrator for 

Government and Industry Affairs at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). That office has 

asked me to respond. 

Mr. Prestia urged that the proposed transaction be approved. He stated that New York is the 

largest city in the United States and that only the world's largest airline can provide the services 

that New York needs. 

On February 9, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a tentative determination 

approving the proposed transaction, but subject to certain conditions. It tentatively found that the 

public interest would best be served if the potential harm created by the increased concentration 

at the airports were counterbalanced by affording new opportunities for competition by new 

entrant and limited incumbent carriers. Specifically, the tentative finding would require 

divestiture of 14 pairs of slot interests at DCA, and 20 pairs of slot interests at LGA, to such 

carriers. 

The proposed determination was published in the Federal Register on February 18 (75 Fed. Reg. 

7306), with a closing date for comments from interested persons of March 22, 2010. After 

receipt and review of the comments, we will take such further action as appropriate. 

A. copy of your letter, including the enclosure from Mr. Prestia, will be placed in the docket for 

the proceeding, FAA 2010-0109. That docket also contains a copy of the tentative determination 
and other relevant documents, should you and Mr. Prestia wish to follow developments in the 

matter. It is accessible through the Federal Government's regulations website, 

littpi/Zwww.regulations. gov. 

If I can provide fiirther information or assistance, please feel free to call me. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary 

for Aviation and International Affairs 
trT^ 

l.'.S. SHNATO U • N i: ni l A .S K A 

Mike Johanns 

SKd l liu^SL•ll Si;n.\tc Officr lUii:,'.. 

\\:i.sliiiigiun , D.C. 2il5!i i 

T 0 T . O "» .( I 2 2 -f 

Jrr'n'://\V\VW.JOHANNS.SI',NA'n'..GOV 

lo: Megan l^osiii, Assistant .-Vdiuinistrator for Go\'ci*nnicnl and 

Industry alTairs 

Fcderai .Aviation .Vdniinislratioii 

Fax: (202)267-8210 

Re: Constituent: John IMcstia 

Paj>es: 3 (incluilin*^ cover) 

Date: December 16,2009 

AUaclial is a Idler from John I'rcslia orniklu>m. NV-hraska. Mr. INcsJia discusses 

ilic l.a Guarclia Airpoil yalc swaj) hclwccn US .Airways and Delia Airlines. Please 

provide delailetl inrorinatit)n from I-AA on this issue lor iVIr. i'reslia and send to 

Senator Jolianns .ScottsbliilTolTice. 11 you have any ^|ueslio^s. please feel free to 

contact me. 

Thank \ou. 

Smcerelv, 

'^fjlnc^fpHMi^ 

Froiii the desk of: 

Brand! .MeC'asliii 

Conslituonl Services Representalive 

I'.S. Senator Mike .lohaniis 

I 15 Railway StreuU Snilc CKIZ 

Scottshhjii. NK oy.Kil 

{3()H) 032-(il»32 

(30.S) 632-ft2')5 lav 

hiandi inccaslin^t'inlianns.senate.udN 
MIKE JOHANNS 

»jsn: i SU:LDI»IG 

.ViE'<)K3TClj,,5;;..5.j 

lanitcd States ^tmtz 

\VASHI!>!a70N. DC 20510 

4 I(J .n D^ 20. 

Dear Sir/Ma'am: 

The attached communica«"on is sent for yyur consideration. Plcass invesuaatc the statements 

contained therein and forward me the necessary information for reply. Please direct your 

rcspon.se to my Constituent Sen*iccs Reprcsenuitive using the contact informaiicin provided 

below. 

TTiank vou. 

Sinccrelv. 

An/>^ ^^^"'-^ 

AITS: Brandi McCaslin 

Coii.<tin»em Services Representaiivs 

U.S. Ssjiaior Mike .lohanns 

115 Railway Strtrt-t. Siiiie CKi2 

Scoii.sbluff.NE 69361 

Phone: (308) 632-6032 

Fax: (30S> 632-'.>:95 

Email: braadi_niccasliiv'Sjohanns..<;cn:tU'.uov 
Dunson, Camellia (OST) 

From: McCaslin, Brand! (Johanns) [Brandj_l\^cCasl!n@Johanns.senate.gov] 

Sent: Tuesday, February 23,2010 10:35 AM 

To: Ounson, Camellia (OST) 

Subject: FW: Constituent letter regarding John Prestia 

Attachments: Prestia inquiry.pdf 

Camellia, 

Attached is the information per our conversation yesterday. 

Thank you. 

Brandi McCaslin 

—Original Message— 

From: marvel.gardner@faa.gov [mailto:marvel.gardner@faa.gov] 

Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 9:31 AM 

To: McCaslin, Brandi (Johanns) 

Subject: RE: Constituent letter regarding John Prestia 

The number is (202) 366 8822 

Marvel Gardner 

Congressional Liaison Specialist 

202 267 3277 

"McCaslin, Brandi 

(Johanns)" 

<Brandi_McCaslin@ To 

Johanns.senate.go Marvel Gardner/AWA/FAA@FAA 

v> cc 

02/01/2010 04:17 Subject 

PM RE: Constituent letter regarding 

John Prestia 

I have not received a response to this inquiry. Would you have a number I could call to check on the 

status or would you be able to check on the status of the response for me? 

Thanks, 

1 
Brand! 

Brandi McCaslin 

Constituent Services Representative 

Office of U.S. Senator Mike Johanns 

115 Railway Plaza, Suite C102 

Scottsbluff, NE 69361 

Phone: (308) 632-6032 

Fax: (308) 632-6295 

brandi mccaslin(a)iohanns.senate.aov 

—Original Message— 

From: niarvel.gardner@faa.gov [mailto:marvel.gardner@faa.gov] 

Sent: Thursday, December 24,2009 7:34 AM 

To: McCaslin. Brandi (Johanns) 

Subject: Constituent letter regarding John Prestia 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is in receipt of your faxed letter dated December 16th 

regarding the following constituent: 

John Prestia - regarding LaGuardia Airport gate swap between US 

Ainvays and Delta Air Lines 

This is not an FAA issue. In order to ensure that your concerns are 

addressed, I am forwarding your inquiry to the appropriate agency at the 

following address: 

Office of Aviation and International Affairs (X-1) 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington. DC 20590 

If I can be of further assistance, please call me at the above telephone 

number. 

Marvel Gardner 

Congressional Liaison Spec. 

(202) 267-3277 
From: "mikeJohanns(g!johanns.senate.gov" 

<mikeJohanns(^ohanns.senate.gov> 

Date: 11/27/2009 11:27:03 AM 

To: "webmail@johanns-iq.senate.gov" <webmail(gjohanns-iq.senate.gov> 

Cc: 

Subject: Contact Senator Johanns 

John Prestia 

4506 North 193rd Avenue Circle 

Elkhom,NE 68022-5178 

November 27,2009 

The Honorable Mike Johanns 

United States Senate 

404 Russell Senate Office Building 

Washington, DC 20510-2705 

i 

Dear Senator Johanns: i 

Please approve the New York City La Guardia Airport gate swap between US 

Airways and Delta Airlines. New York City is the largest city in the 

United States and needs an airline to.committ all resources to serve a 

city such as its size. Only the worlds largest airline can provide such 

support. 

Thank you for your approval so this city and our country can benefit from 

the support. 

Sincerely, 

John Prestia 

402-290-8808 

J